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Azerbaijani, Armenian Presidents may meet in late January: OSCE MG Russian co-chair (video)

Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict Materials 19 January 2009 19:27 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 19 / Trend , E.Tariverdiyeva/ As a result of their meeting with Azerbaijani President, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs received an initial consent to meet with his Armenian counterpart beyond the Davos forum.

"The most likely date of the meeting between the Presidents is the midday of Jan. 28," OSCE MG Russian co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov said to journalists on Jan. 19.

"When in Yerevan, we expect to receive a relevant consent from the Armenian side," he said.

According to the Russian diplomat, the basic principles are still of current importance. "If the meeting takes place, some principles will be further specified," he said, adding that some wordings may be changed.

On Jan. 19, the OSCE MG co-chairs met in Baku with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov to discuss the ways to settle the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.

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